Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers took an unexpected leave from his teaching duties at Harvard University on Wednesday. This decision came after the disclosure of emails revealing his friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, as confirmed by his spokesperson.
Summers had already begun to step back from his public engagements due to the backlash following the revelations of his ties to Epstein. Initially, he had indicated his intention to continue teaching economics at Harvard.
However, by Wednesday evening, Summers not only withdrew from teaching but also resigned from his position as the director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.
“Mr. Summers has opted to take a leave from his role as Director at the Center while Harvard conducts its review. His colleagues will finish the remaining classes for this semester, and he is not slated to teach next semester,” stated Summers’ spokesperson Steven Goldberg.
Although Harvard did not explicitly mention Summers in the decision to reopen an investigation, the university’s action followed the release of emails demonstrating his continued association with Epstein post his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Summers, a renowned economics expert, had been under growing scrutiny for his choice to remain in his teaching position. Notably, some students recorded his remarks in front of an undergraduate class on Tuesday, where he emphasized the importance of persisting with teaching.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized Summers on social media, alleging that he had aligned himself with influential individuals, including a convicted sex offender, and was therefore unfit for positions of power.
Summers’ Departure from OpenAI Board
Earlier on Wednesday, Summers cut ties with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.
“Larry has decided to resign from the OpenAI board of directors, and we respect his decision,” stated the board in an official release.
“We acknowledge his significant contributions and the valuable perspectives he brought to the board.”
This announcement came a day after Summers announced his withdrawal from public commitments.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to have served, optimistic about the company’s potential, and eager to track their advancements,” Summers remarked in a separate statement regarding his exit from OpenAI.
In November 2023, Summers joined the OpenAI board as part of an initiative to stabilize the organization and reinstate Sam Altman as CEO after the prior board members terminated Altman’s position days earlier.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019, was a notorious convicted sex offender known for his connections with affluent and influential individuals, making him a central figure in controversies and conspiracy theories surrounding the American elite.
On Wednesday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump enacted a bill mandating the Justice Department to disclose its files related to investigations into Epstein, despite his previous reluctance to release this information.
The U.S. Congress overwhelmingly agreed to pass a bill forcing the Justice Department to release its files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Senate also approved and President Donald Trump said he will sign the bill when it lands on his desk.
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